Hospice Support in Hays, KS: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Hays, KS: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Hays ZIP codes

598

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Ellis County)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Ellis County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Hays ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice & Palliative Care At Haysmed in Hays (0.7 mi) and Hospice Services Inc in Phillipsburg (61 mi).

1,021 Hays residents 65 or older live alone (32% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Hays compared with Ellis County and Kansas

Census figure	Hays	Ellis County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	7.8%	5.6%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,827	$46,379	—

Older residents in towns around Hays

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Russell, KS	25 mi	1,030	39%
Hoisington, KS	39 mi	503	44%
Great Bend, KS	46 mi	2,705	35%
Larned, KS	50 mi	899	50%
Ellsworth, KS	60 mi	537	31%

Hospices serving Hays

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice & Palliative Care At Haysmed	Hays, KS	0.7 mi	(785) 623-6200
Hospice Services Inc	Phillipsburg, KS	61 mi	(785) 543-2900
Hospice Of The Prairie	Dodge City, KS	87 mi	(620) 227-7209
Meadowlark Hospice	Clay Center, KS	123 mi	(785) 632-2225
Gentiva	Wichita, KS	138 mi	(316) 559-2049
Traditions Health	Wichita, KS	142 mi	(316) 687-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Hays. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support costs in Hays

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,736 monthly median income of Hays households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Hospice Support in Hays: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Hays?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,736 monthly median income of Hays households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Hays

More senior care near Hays

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Hays

More for Hays families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Hospice Support in Hays, KS